Impact drilling and cutting removing tool



April 1965 J. M. REYNOLDS 3,177,956

IMPACT DRILLING AND CUTTING REMOVING TOOL Filed Sept. 14, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,177,956 IWACT DRILLING AND CUTTING REMOVING TOOL John M. Reynolds, Shreveport, La, assignor to The Reynolds Specialty Company, Inc., Shreveport, La., a corporation of Louisiana Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 223,678 1 Claim. (Cl. 175--242) This invention relates to well drilling tools, and more particularly to a drilling tool of the impact type which is designed to remove cuttings from a well bore as the cuttings are formed.

The invention is capable of wide utility in the drilling of wells, and finds particular application in connection with the drilling up and removal from well bores of lost objects of various kinds, or in the removal of bridge plugs, or the like, used in the production and completion of oil and gas wells.

In well drilling operations, the well bore often becomes plugged or obstructed in various ways, such as by the lodging of broken tools, the caving of the formation or the loss of various kinds of well equipment in the bore, making it necessary to carry out extensive recovery or cleaning operations in order to place the well in condition for further operation. Well cleaning operations of this kind are frequently carried out by the use of an impact tool attached to a cable or wire line, which is raised and dropped in the bore to drill up the obstruc-,

tion, the fragments being collected in a barrel portion of the tool above the drilling bit for removal with the tool from the bore. The drilling bit used with such impact tools is customarily of generally wedge shape, and under such conditions, such as when the obstruction is of hard material or when the object to be removed is located off center in the bore, the drilling bit is deflected toward one side of the bore resulting in a change in direction or deviation in the bore.

, The present invention has for an important object the provision of an impact drilling and cutting removing tool for use in the drilling of wells, embodying means for holding the drilling bit centered in the hole during the drilling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drilling tool of the impact type having a tapered or wedge-shaped cutting portion and including means for preventing the deviation of hole during the drilling operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision in an impact drilling tool, of the type mentioned, having a cylindrical barrel of somewhat smaller external diameter than the diameter of the well bore and a wedge-shaped drilling bit on the lower end of the barrel Whose cutting edge is of somewhat greater length than the diameter of the barrel, and means on the bit located above and at each side of the cutting edge and extending radially outwardly therefrom in position for engagement with the surrounding Wall of the well bore to hold the cutting edge against deflection out of a position in substantially diametrical relation to the bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined well bailer and impact drilling tool having a cylindrical barrel, a downwardly directed impact bit of wedge shape on the lower end of the barrel and having an inlet opening from the interior of the bore into the interior of the barrel, valve means in the barrel positioned to close the inlet opening against the outflow of fluid from the barrel into the bore and to open the inlet opening to the irflow of fluid from the bore into the barrel, a tubular plunger movably mounted in the barrel for reciprocation therein, valve means positioned to close the plunger against the downward flow of fluid through the plunger and to open the plunger to the upward flow of fluid therethrough, means on the plunger and barrel positioned for coaction to limit upward movement of the plunger in the barrel, and means for connecting the plunger to a wire line.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a combined well bailer and impact drilling tool of the kind mentioned of means for yieldingly arresting the upward movement of the plunger in the barrel to prevent impact of the plunger against the barrel when the plunger reaches the limit of its upward movement in the barrel.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a combined well bailer and impact drilling tool of the type referred to having a barrel whose upper end is open, of means movably mounted on the wire line above the barrel for downward movement into a position to close the upper end of the barrel during downward movement of the plunger in the barrel and for upward movement out of closing relation to the barrel upon upward movement of the plunger in the barrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined well bailer and impact drilling t'ool having a venting passageway and removable means for closing the same whereby pressure may be retained in the barrel or released therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an impact drilling and cutting removing tool which is of simple design and rugged construction and which is capable of well withstanding the extreme conditions of wear and hard usage to which apparatus of such character is frequently subjected.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the same, wherein- FIGURE 1 is a vertical, central, cross-sectional view of the tool of the invention, showing the relative positions of the parts at one stage of the operation of the tool;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, showing the relative positions of the parts at another stage of the operation of the tool;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, on a somewhat enlarged scale of the improved impact cutting bit of the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view on a slightly enlarged scale showing details of structure of a somewhat modified form of the connection between the operating cable or wire line and the plunger of the tool.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention in the present illustration comprises a tubular barrel 10, whose lower end is connected to a downwardly directed impact bit 12, and within which a plunger 14 is movably positioned for reciprocation, which plunger is connected at its upper end to an operating cable 16, whereby the plunger and barrel maybe lifted and dropped in a well bore to move the bit into and out of impacting engagement with the bottom of the here or with an object therein.

The barrel is internally threaded at its upper end, as indicated at 18, for the thneadable connection thereto of an externally threaded tubular fishing head 20, through which the cable 16 is slidably extended into the barrel, and which is formed at its lower end with an internal beveled face 22.

The plunger 14 is of tubular construct-ion, provided with a lower portion 24, upon which a number of piston rings or packing elements 26 are mounted in sealing engagement with the plunger and the internal wall of the barrel. At its upper end the section 24 of the plunger is formed with an internal valve seat 28 and with external threads 30 for the connection thereto of a valve cage 32, within which a valve 34 is movably positioned Patented Apr. 13, 1965 3 (for movement into and out of closing engagement with the seat 28. The cage 32, threadably connected at its upper end to a head 36, which in turn is threadably connected to the lower end of an upper tubular section 38. At its upper end the section 38 is threadably connected to a cable connector 40 to which the cable 16 is connected in the usual manner. The cable connector 40 is provided with one or more outlet openings 42, in communication with the interior of the plunger and leading to the exterior thereof. The bore of the upper section 38 may be internally threaded at its upper end for the insertion therein of a removable plug 44, by which the plunger may be closed against the outflow of fluid through the upper end of the plunger.

The head 36 of the cage 32 is formed with an upper rounded face 46, positioned to enter the internal beveled lower end of the fishing head 20 into contact with the beveled face 22 thereof when the plunger is in its uppermost position in the barrel.

The impact cutting bit 12 is formed at its lower end with a downwardly directed wedge-shaped portion 48, which terminates in a straight cutting edge 50. The bit has a tubular shank portion 52, above the wedge-shaped portion 48, which is externally threaded at its upper end as indicated at 54 for connection to the lower end of the barrel 10, and is provided with a side window opening 56 and an external annular, upwardly facing shoulder 58 located below the window opening. The bit shank also has an internally reduced portion 60, forming an internal valve seat 62.

The downward tapering portion 48 of the bit is provided with lateral passageways 64, which open to the exterior of the bit and which are in connection with the interior of the shank through the valve seat 62.

The shank of the bit is surrounded by a rotatable sleeve 66, whose lower end rests against the shoulder 58, and which is provided with an opening 70 which may be moved into and out of registration with the side window opening 56 of the shank.

An upwardly opening valve is pivotally mounted in the shank 52 for movement into and out of closing relation to the seat 62.

The bit is provided with diametrically opposite external lugs 74, extending radially outwardly from the upper extremities of the tapering faces of the wedgeshaped portion of the bit, whose lower edges are sharpened to form downwardly directed cutting edges 76, extending downwardly over the outer ends of the passageways 64. The outer extremities of the lugs 74 are formed with peripherally curved faces, such as that shown at 78, whose radius is somewhat greater than the external radius of the barrel 1%). The length of the cutting edge 50 on the bit is preferably somewhat greater than the external diameter of the barrel 10, and substantially equal to the diameter across the faces 78 of the lugs 74.

The upper section 38 of the plunger is of somewhat.

smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the fishing head 20, to provide a space 80 between the section 38 and the internal surface of the fishing head, when the section is extended through the head upon upward movement of the plunger, through which fluid may flow out of the upper end of the barrel during the operation of the tool. a

A tubular, vertically movable, plug or closure element 82 supports the cable 16, above the barrel, which plug has a somewhat reduced lower end portion 84, forming a downwardly faced annular shoulder 86, which is engageable with the upper end of the fishing head 20 to close the fishing head upon downward movement of the plunger in the barrel, to prevent the entrance of sand or other foreign material into the upper end of the barrel during such downward movement.

A somewhat modified form of the cable connection of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 4, wherein the upper end of the cable connector 42 is formed with an upwardly extending rod portion 40', whose upper end is flattened, as indicated at 88 and provided with an opening therethrough through which the cable or wire line 16 may be extended and wound about itself as indicated at 92, to connect the rod to the cable. The rod portion 40 may be of any directed length, so that additional lengths of tubing may be added to the upper end of the barrel 10 to lengthen the barrel when desired.

In the operation of the tool, constructed as described above, the tool is lowered into the well bore with'the sleeve 66 rotating to a position to close the side window 66 of the bit shank, until the lower end of the bit engages the bottom of the hole or the object or material which is to be drilled away. Under these conditions the well bore will be filled with liquid while the tool is being operated, and with the tool thus inserted in the body the cable 16 is operated to lift the tool and allow the same to fall to deliver an impact through the bit against the object to be drilled to cause the cut-ting edge 50 to penetrate the object, whereby the object is ground up or crushed into fragments.

Upon the exertion of an upward pull on the cable 16 the plunger 14 will be moved upwardly in the barrel, to cause the valve 72 to open, whereupon the liquid in the bore, together with the entrained cuttings will be drawn into the barrel through the passageways 64 and the valve seat 62 beneath the plunger. Such upward movement of the plunger in the barrel will continue until the rounded surface 46 of the cage head 36 engages the internal beveled face 22 of the fishing head 20, whereupon the barrel and bit will be lifted with the plunger.

When the barrel has been thus raised to the directed distance, the cable 16 is then slacked off to allow the barrel to descend, to again engage the bit with the object to deliver a cutting impact thereon.

After the bit has moved into contact with the object the plunger will then move downwardly in the barrel, the valve 72 moving to closed position, so that the fluid in the barrel is caused to move upwardly through the plunger, opening the valve 34 to allow the fluid to pass out through the cage 32 into the barrel above the plunger.

Upon the exertion of the upward pull on the cable 16 the valve 34 will be closed so that as the plunger again moves upwardly in the barrel the fluid in the barrel will be forced out through the space 80, while additional fluid and cuttings will be drawn into the barrel beneath the plunger as previously described.

As the section 38 of the plunger moves upwardly through the fishing head, the cable connector 40 will engage the lower end of the closure 82 to move the closure upwardly, to open the fishing head, so that fluid in the barrel above the plunger therein may flow outwardly through the fishing head as the plunger moves upwardly. Upon downward movement of the plunger in the barrel, the lower end of the closure 82 will enter the upper end of the fishing head to close the same as soon as the cable connector 40 has moved downwardly within the fishing head, thus preventing the entrance of sand or other material into the barrel above the plunger as the plunger moves downwardly.

When the tool has been thus operated to an extent that the barrel beneath the plunger has been filled with cuttings, the tool may be withdrawn from the well bore and the cuttings removed through the side window 56 by rotating the sleeve 66 to bring the opening 70 into registration with the side window opening.

During the operation of the tool in the well bore the drilling bit is held centered in the hole by the peripheral faces 78 of the lugs 74 and the external faces of the wedge-shaped portion 48 which are located at the ends of the cutting edge 50, so that deflection of the cutting edge 50 by contact with an object or material which is off center relative to the bore is prevented. The cutting edges 76 of the lugs 74' may also be positioned to extend downwardly somewhat over the outer ends of the passageways 64 to perform a cutting action on fragments of material which are too large to enter the barrel and to prevent clogging the passageways 64 with large particles.

Should it be desired to make the barrel in several sections which may be threadably connected together to increase the length of the barrel, the connector member 46 and cable 16 may be removed and the connecting means illustrated in FIGURE 4, substituted therefor. The rod 40' in the present illustration, is formed at its lower end with an internally threaded box portion 94 for connection to the upper end of the plunger 14 and is provided with openings 42' similar to the openings 42 of the connector 40, for the same purpose. The rod 40 may, of course, be made of any desired length, so that as many barrel sections as needed may be connected together to form a barrel of the required capacity.

During the operation of the tool the barrel beneath the plunger 14 will be loaded with cuttings and fluid at the pressure obtaining at the location in the bore where the tool is operating, and when the tool is operated with the plug 44 in place, this pressure will be retained in the barrel when the tool is withdrawn from the bore. With the tool thus loaded, at ground level, the sleeve 66 may be rotated to open the side window 56, whereupon the load of the barrel will be quickly discharged under pressure.

Under conditions in which it may be desirable to allow the pressure within and without the barrel to become equalized when the tool is brought to the surface, the plug 44 may be removed to allow the pressure to escape through the plunger and the opening 42.

It will thus be seen that the invention, constructed and operated as described above, provides a combined impact drilling and cutting removing tool which is of simple design and strong construction, in which means is embodied for preventing deviation of the hole while drilling, and which is of economical manufacture.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with certain specific embodiments of the mechanism, but it will be understood that these are intended by way of illustration only and that various changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a well drilling and cutting removing tool of the impact type, a cylindrical barrel having a lower end inlet, a drilling bit attached to the lower end of the barrel having downwardly converging faces terminating in a lower end cutting edge disposed diametrically relative to and of greater length than the external diameter of the barrel and an inlet opening terminating in and opening to the exterior through each of said faces and in communication with said inlet, means movably mounted on the hit in said passageway for movement to one position to close the inlet against the outflow of fluid from the barrel therethrough and to another position to open the inlet, a plunger reciprocable in the barrel and adapted upon reciprocation to draw material into the barrel beneath the plunger through the inlet, external lugs on the bit above the inlet openings, each said lug having a lower outwardly and downwardly tapered surface thereon and a peripheral outer surface which is parallel to the outer surface of the barrel and whose radius is greater than the radius of the barrel, said lugs terminating in peripherally extending lower cutting edges spaced outwardly of said inlet openings and located mediate the upper and lower extremities of the openings, the diameter across the outer surfaces of the lugs being substantially equal to the length of the lower end edge of the blade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,619 6/25 Hannan -408 1,661,060 2/28 Uhl 175-234 1,669,360 5/28 Towne 175-408 1,754,830 4/30 MacClatchie 175-401 1,861,022 5/32 Miller 175-242 2,646,128 7/53 Reynolds 175-234 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDE'IT, Examiner. 

